Born & Raised Review

My favorite place to go for dinner or just for a drink. Everything is always phenomenal.

"Foods, drinks, desserts, atmosphere, and service are all top notch."

Really fun place for a night out. Good drinks, great steaks, awesome staff. 10/10 would visit again.

Absolutely the best of the best. 10/10 Chef Phil is really passionate about what he does and it shows in the savory dishes. Service was perfect with Jared! Thank you so much for the experience.

I visited Born and Raised in Little Italy on a first date on the recommendation of my date. Although I found the restaurant very chic and pleasant, the meal that I order left much to be desired. I ordered a ribeye steak ($45) with dirty hashbrown potatoes and a starter salade . Sadly to say, the starter salade was the best part of the order. The ribeye steak was very well done like I ordered but when I cut into it, it was mostly fat and the dirty hash browns were sort of bland. A very over priced meal. Three stars for the look of the restaurant and the service which really nice.

The environment is quite the sight. Atmosphere is fun but a bit crowded. Drink selection was pretty diverse , but the prices were a tad bit high by a buck or two. You can't go wrong with the food options.

Overall, pretty nice place for a group of 4, possibly 6. Great place for a first date. Not ideal for larger group. And this place is packed full of good options.

I went with out of country friends the service and food were awesome but pricey

Great food with great service! Everything is very well presented! The branding is done very well- down to the restrooms and to-go boxes- everything reminds you of where you are!
Obviously the food is tasty and a bit pricey- we spent $250 on dinner for the 2 of us.

Overrated. Beautiful interior and exterior. Can t cook a steak though. We ordered the NY Bone In off the Why You re Here menu as medium and it was delivered to us very very rare. If you re going to call yourself an amazing steakhouse, should probably be able to cook steak better. Service was good, but this place is bells and whistles.
It s the food that matters above the decor. Not impressed and won t return.

One of the most unforgettable dining experiences I've ever had. Out waiter, Gabriel, was absolutely amazing. Attentive without hovering and friendly.
The food was exceptional. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu.
An added bonus, I asked the bartenders to make me something with either rum or vodka and citrus forward, and they absolutely knocked it out of the park.
It's pricey, so definitely the kind of place you go for a special dinner, but oh so worth it. We'll definitely be back here!

Thank you Raphael for the great reccomendation on that Magnium of Champagne...I had the Best Time!! Food was good too!

Fantastic atmosphere, service, food & drinks. Worth every penny. Awesome for date night or with a group, upstairs is the place to be on a nice night

The downstairs dining area is too cold. The AC is cranked and the stone tables keep the plates ice called and made my $67 ribeye cold. The tables were put together haphazardly and had a awkward bump in the middle.

The service however is excellent. The staff super friendly knowledgeable and overall helpful.

The bathrooms are upstairs and the sinks to wash your hands are so small water drips everywhere.

Maybe you think this review is too harsh but when your bill is $237 for two people everything should be perfect.

Beautiful environment. Glorious meal. Extra special attention to details. You deserve it!

Crafty cocktails, pricy but get what you pay for. The scrmenery and environment is unmatched in San Diego. No comment on the food, drinks were great.

Awesome vibe and drinks. Get rid of plastic straws pls.

A must! The decor is amazing! Good service at the bar! Food is good!

Good food. Pricey but probably worth it for the potatoes. I tried them each way and couldn't pick a favorite. So delicious. The service is lacking for the price point and is the component its lacking to be considered fine dining.

I recomend going upstairs to the bar and looking for the cute girl drinking water by herself. She will take care of you.

"Born & Raised" has surpassed my expectations -- a tall task given the spendy menu. The service is spectacular and the dramatic interior decor is stunning -- based on a timeless design not of our era, but of this country's vintage nosheries, with an elegant ambience cultivated by a brassy, walnut-colored "art deco" dining room and punctuated by an attractive front-of-house staff tricked out in tasteful dresses and white tuxedos.

Best of all, the food here has been very good across two separate visits.

My first steak here was the classic "Tournedos Rossini": a butter-basted rare filet mignon served on a crouton, topped with seared foie gras, finished with a Madeira demi-glace sauce, and garnished with shaved black truffles. The whole of this is a buttery, well-crusted steak supported by strong complimentary flavors that will leave you wondering why every steakhouse doesn't serve this dish.

On my second visit, I enjoyed an 8-ounce "Miyazaki A5 New York Strip," a pre-sliced Japanese black wagyu steak that may be the best steak I've eaten in San Diego, with only Provisional's Hokkaido A5 challenging it. The melty, buttery texture of this steak combined with its relentlessly beefy flavor simulates one's tastebuds in a way that they are utterly ruined for the next dozen steaks you will eat. Unlike the multiple flavor bombs involved in the "Tournedos Rossini," a light sprinkle of Maldon sea salt flakes is all that is provided or needed for A5-grade wagyu steak. Unfortunately, it did not come cheap: at $18 per precious ounce, this steak set me back $144.

All of the a la carte sides I've had are decent, even by steakhouse standards. You can't go wrong with Born & Raised's "Coal-Roasted Leeks," or the crispy "Charred Broccoli," or especially the baked breadcrumb-covered "Mac & Cheese" with its tangy mix of cheddar and gruyere cheeses. But my favorite side was the half-pound "Butter-Poached Lobster," a pricey but worthwhile indulgence of melted butter riding on the back of expertly cooked, taut lobster tail meat.





While I still believe Cowboy Star to be the city's top steakhouse, "Born & Raised" is similarly one of San Diego's top restaurants in addition to being an intriguing place for steak. I look forward to coming back here for years to come.

The decor, the service, the wine selection and cocktails- absolutely perfect. The Art Deco decor and city skyline view only add to the perfection. Highly recommended.

Great place to go for happy hour. The bar staff was great, the food was wonderful and they had a large selection of cocktails on the HH menu.

Excellent food, service and ambiance. Very expensive. Special occasions only for our family.

We had heard great things about this restaurant so we gave it a try. Sadly it was not the most enjoyable evening as the restaurant was VERY VERY loud. Nearly to the state where we had to yell across the table to be heard. The food was well prepared but WAY over priced. Here is an example: $56 for four Ceaser salads. The hook that reeled us in here is tableside preparation. Unique, yes, worth $56 bucks...not a chance. Service was slow at best. Finally traffic was very heavy and parking availability was non existent nearby.

The ambiance is perfect. Perfectly designed and the food was very tasty.

Vibe is great, food fantastic. I could have given 5 stars, they definitely hit the mark with my guests in from NY. They enjoyed the food, drink, server I mean service. Really a great atmosphere.

I would actually say 4.7 stars. Born and Raised serves excellent food. The service is great, the atmosphere is good.

We both had steak. I had a Ribeye that was a terrible cut, something I would expect in a grocery store. It tasted as if it was covered with butter to give a bad cut some flavor. The steak had so much fat and veins that I could barely cut through it. I ate about 1/3 of it and left the rest. My colleague had a filet, which wasn't bad. The apps were actually pretty good. The service, while slow to start was very good. We made reservations several weeks in advance on Open Table and we choose "standard seating", instead of the other option "outdoor seating" . When we arrived the hostess started taking us upstairs, which is more of a covered outdoor bar area surrounded by dinner tables. It was a cold evening and I told her that we prefer an indoor table downstairs. She told us that all the tables outside have heaters, which is not necessarily the case. I asked to be moved to 1 of the 5 open tables under a heater and she replied that those tables were booked for people who requested them specifically. Seriously, I doubt that this was true. She said she would check and see if we could move to a better table. "Please sit here and I will be back to let you know". Well, she never came back and we never heard back from anyone. It was so cold that we couldn't wait to get out of there. Those tables sat open for over an hour and one table was open until we were paying our bill to leave. I mean the restaurant has a cool trendy vibe and we were excited to eat there. But they need to improve some of their food and better train and manage their host staff, or at least this particular person. You shouldn't BS your customers, especially at those prices!

If I could give this place 6 stars, I would. Spectacular service and beautiful decor, it's trendy and fancy without being stuffy. Prime rib was out of this world. Get the carrot cake to go if you don't have room, because it's worth it. High quality dining and beautiful steaks.

Celebreated my 3rd year anniversary wife my wife here. Absolutely amazing. Great atmosphere, love the food and drinks.

Stopped in here with an old friend for drinks. Their whiskey selection is AMAIZING! The bar service was to notch. I wish we would have eaten here. Next time I'm in San Diego, I will be back!

I booked a table on the upstairs patio months in advance. The assigned seating was in the middle of the patio and not at the seating on the outer sides, which was not a big deal initially.
However, as the bar patrons increased in numbers, they were soon standing next to our table and dropping their used drink glasses on our table. Really ? This is fine dining? We did complain and on one occasion, the throbbing crowd was pushed back, temporarily however. This place needs to figure out whether it is a bar or high end restaurant. A disasterous evening. Stay away. No one from management offered an apology or any form of atonement. Stay away.

The place is a design lovers dream, stylish beyond words. And their craft cocktails to die for. Be prepared to shell out some $$$$ tho.

A great experience! The spaghetti had a hidden treasure...

First time ever going to this place and I thought I was going to be thoroughly impressed, the meat was overcooked no flavor the lobster had no flavor, for $100 with a glass of wine you would think it would be an outstanding steak. Thoroughly disappointed. Probably won t ever come back here for steak ever again.

We had a Group of 8 for Holidays at 9 pm.
Waited till 10 pm.while empty Booth next to us was able to seat 4-6,They tried to Squeeze 8 in a Booth, We had to ask the Mgr.why ?
Food was Very Over Priced & Slow Service
Valet Parking was Good next Door.

Steak perfection. One of the top steakhouses I have ever been to, with great ambiance, decor, and service. Will definitely return!

This place was a bit pricey, but that being said, totally outstanding! Liquid nitrogen tableside cocktails, dry aged beef, bone in options, wagyu too, lobster tail, creative sides (e.g., caviar hash browns with creme fraiche), great wine and spirits list. Amazing ambiance and service to match - all the staff wears tuxedos with Vans or Chucks LOL. Try it, you won't be disappointed!!

We ve been there three times now and it s the best steak in San Diego hands down. Had the bone-in rib eye last nigh and it was out of this world. All the food is seasoned perfectly. Love the table-side Caesar salad and the crispy smashed potatoes. Service is impeccable and on-point.

The steak is amazing and the cheesecake is to die for.

Fat fat fat. Overpriced FATTY meat. Terrible crowded seating. Don t waste your money, cause this place sure isn t cheap and so not worth it.

Easily one of my favorite restaurants in San Diego. It's hard to find a place that nails atmosphere, food presentation and taste, and this knocks all 3 out of the park. Plus you cannot beat their happy hour - happy hour is perfect for if you're not wanting to spend a ton but still want to be boujee. Order the martini, order the steak sandwich (you can thank me later.)

Great vibe. Both the restaurant bar and the rooftop lounge/bar are fun and upscale. Food is amazingly well prepared.

Best steak house in town. Everything we had was delicious. Decor and vibe of the restaurant was done very well; like walking into a modern version of Great Gatsby.

Attention to detail Beautiful decor.Expanded menu. Several excellent choices. Their specialty is their several cuts of aged beef. Dimmly lit so I suggest reading glasses on light on cellphone to read the menu.Not many gluten free items. Nice selection of cold and hot side dishes. Alcoholic beverages on the expensive side. I recommend bringing your own bottle of wine for a fair corkage fee. Our dessert cart waiter was very good and informative. I think he goes by J.J. Upstairs is the main bar with mostly Millenials. Restrooms also on the second floor. Restrooms like I've never seen before. Dress is all overthe board. Say people dressed to the nine's and people in shorts and pullover shirts (in November!). We are looking forward to going again.

Great environment but a little loud. Awesome food, but in the pricier side. Would go again overall

Amazing. A little bit too perfect, but beautiful p, eople great space and fantastic food

Had an amazing meal and great experience with our knowledgeable and friendly server! We ordered the steak sampler and loved getting to hear and taste the difference between the wet aged, dry aged, American wagyu and Japanese wagyu. Would definitely return and order the Japanese wagyu without question. Also the vibe is super cute, loved all the attention to detail in the decor.

Very sleek atmosphere. Great wait staff, table side service and delicious food.

Unbelievable dining experience...attention to detail...food absolutely delicious

Absolutely amazing food, epic architecture and design, and the staff is lots of fun!

Phenomenal steak, great service. Would definitely recommend.

glass of cabernet is $20... thats ridiculous. Avoid if you don't want a hole in your credit card

Wow. An excellent steak house experience. Everything was excellent, and if there was a mistake, it was an excellent correction.

I want to leave a wonderful review but at the moment, words escape me. So I'll do my best. Walking in the door, think upscale, 20,s art deco, but swanky when you take a closer look. Or as one chick said to me, it's like walking into the Titanic (the part where people have funds. I do want to make sure to really emphasize how professional and classy the service was and the food is top notch. Yes it's pricey, well, to some of is, meaning me. However it was my birthday and my Husband and I enjoyed every little bit no regrets or holding back. If you are a carnivorous red meat eater like me ( does great for my blood type) then you will appreciate this place. That does not mean you will not enjoy other items on the menu if you do not eat meat. Think Quality here is what Im saying. I could keep going but alas, I digress. Go to here. Make sure to peek upstairs. There's also a little something kind of hidden if you pay attention, I'll just say "WC". And if you're an 80s or 90s child, you'll figure it out. But seriously bring the older folks here too. Peace children

The decor and food are fantastic. The Sommolier recommended a great cab for our dinner that complimented the wine we brought which they decanter for us. Most of the service was great, from Harold who assisted our server to Heather who made our tableside Caesar salad to Rafael, the Sommolier. The only downside was our main server was unfriendly and clearly annoyed that we were taking our time between dinner and dessert. The restaurant was also very loud and the need to go upstairs and all the way across the floor to the restroom and wait in line for a stall was less than ideal for a place of this caliber. We'd definetly return, but its a special occasion type of place.

Japanese waygu and ny strip. Most expensive items on menu perfect. Service amazing. Will go again.

The food was excellent. A bit pricey but delicious and made to order. No problems with splitting checks at the end of the night. Seated before reserved time. However seemed to take some time to order. They were pretty busy. Table of 4 took about an hour to order and another hour to eat and pay. Overall the service was very friendly and seemed willing to help. It may just be me, but I would have preferred to order a little quicker.

A restaurant with magnificent decoration, a good selection of a la carte meat, the side dishes are well prepared and the cocktails are of a high standard as is the wine list. Plan without making excess between $ 150 and $ 200 for 2 people.

Hands down the BEST restaurant in San Diego. The food and drinks are absolutely incredible & both the inside dining/bar area & rooftop patio are all so cool and create a vibe unlike any other restaurant in the city.

Great Ambience, Good food, Great Service. Little expensive but good for special occasions.

Wonderful addition to the Little Italy dinner scene. The best choice for High Grade and top quality steak downtown! The ceaser and mushrooms complimented the 22Oz bone in NY strip. Topped off dinner with a great desert selection.

The food was incredible, and the wait staff made the evening perfect.

The food was tasty. The service here is better than most. The prices are fair for the quality of food.

Always a good time here. Great drinks, good food and lovely scenery .

Food was good but not for the price compared to other steak places I frequent. I was a little disappointed tbh. Steak was lukewarm, the setting felt like it was trying to be fancy, and the acuostics inside are horrible. So much echo it feels like a crowded bar (even in the restaurant area). The table-side options felt more like a gimmick. Not worth.

Amazing place, expect over the top customer service with an awesome variety of drinks and dishes of the best quality

This place is one of a kind. Crazy pricy but one where you aren't just paying for the over the top experience but also really hugh quality food. The rib eye is mouth watering the bread made gluten worth it, the cocktails were fabulous. The decor is 80s new rich think new money trying to hard clearly trash. But that's the theme here. The waiters wear tuxedo jackets, bowties and shorts. Check out the restrooms. Each one more outlandish then the last with gold enamel toilet seats each one emblazoned with a different "on my God can they say that!?" Ditty. Views from the top floor are quite nice, and there tends not to be a wait up there. It's an experience that's for sure!

Great service and ambiance but the food is overpriced and needs to be more flavorful

Love the table side service options you must try the table side ice cream!!

This place is gorgeous, seriously amazing. The cocktails are good but expensive (most likely to pay for the $6M build out) and it's crowded and still has a few kinks to work out, but that being said this is a must visit.

Great place with tasty food, good service. In the heart of Little Italy.

Awesome foods and incredible people! They strive to provide us the best service that exceeds our expectations. I would unquestionably recommend and refer this restaurant services to everyone without any hesitation. No hidden charges compared to others as well. The quality of service they provided was amazing!